Objective:To know the current situation of curriculum construction of "Fundamentals of Toxicology" of preventive medicine major in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) universities.Methods:The undergraduates of preventive medicine major from TCM universities in whole China were selected as the research objects using the cluster sampling method, who took "Fundamentals of Toxicology" course in the 2019-2020 academic year. Questionnaires were compiled and analyzed using descriptive method and radar chart.Results:Six TCM universities were investigated in this study. According to the results, 83.09% (344/414) thought it was necessary to set up the "Fundamentals of Toxicology" course, and the main motivation was to deal with the examination. The agreement rate between the opening semester and the students' wishes was 59.90% (248/414), and the percentages of better satisfaction of theoretical course teaching content, selection of teaching materials and class time were 64.73% (268/414), 55.07% (228/414) and 59.90% (248/414) respectively. The satisfaction rate of experimental course setting, teaching effect and class time was 59.66% (247/414), 62.08% (257/414) and 58.21% (241/414) respectively. It was better to set five times [27.29% (113/414)] or four times [26.81% (111/414)], and four students in each group was the best [53.86% (223/414)]. The most interesting experiment project was bone marrow micronucleus test [29.21% (59/202)], and comprehensive design experiments and highly operable experimental projects should be added. The radar chart of the core knowledge was normal operation type, and there were some differences among students in different schools.Conclusion:There are some differences in the course setting and core knowledge mastery level of the "Fundamentals of Toxicology" course of preventive medicine major in TCM universities. It is necessary to optimize the curriculum construction from opening semester, textbook selection, teaching content, experimental project, etc.

Licking behavior is important for water intake. The deep mesencephalic nucleus (DpMe) has been implicated in instinctive behaviors. However, whether the DpMe is involved in licking behavior and the precise neural circuit behind this behavior remains unknown. Here, we found that the activity of the DpMe decreased during water intake. Inhibition of vesicular glutamate transporter 2-positive (VGLUT2⁺) neurons in the DpMe resulted in increased water intake. Somatostatin-expressing (SST⁺), but not protein kinase C-δ-expressing (PKC-δ⁺), GABAergic neurons in the central amygdala (CeA) preferentially innervated DpMe VGLUT2⁺ neurons. The SST⁺ neurons in the CeA projecting to the DpMe were activated at the onset of licking behavior. Activation of these CeA SST⁺ GABAergic neurons, but not PKC-δ⁺ GABAergic neurons, projecting to the DpMe was sufficient to induce licking behavior and promote water intake. These findings redefine the roles of the DpMe and reveal a novel CeA^SST-DpMe^VGLUT2 circuit that regulates licking behavior and promotes water intake.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the role of NOV/CCN3 in regulating the proliferation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and its regulatory mechanism and assess the value of CCN3 as a proliferative factor in bone tissue engineering. METHODS: Mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) were used as the MSC model, in which CCN3 expression was up-regulated and downregulated by transfection with the recombinant adenovirus vectors Ad-CCN3 and Ad-siCCN3, respectively. Flow cytometry was used to analyze the changes in cell cycle and apoptosis of the transfected cells. Western blotting was used to detect the expression levels of the proliferation indicators (PCNA, cyclin E, and cyclin B1) and the apoptosis indicators (Bax and Bcl-2) to assess the effect of modulation of CCN3 expression on MEF proliferation and apoptosis. CCN3 protein secretion by the cells was detected using ELISA. RT-qPCR and Western blotting were employed to analyze the changes in the expressions of Notch1, ligand DLL1, the downstream key proteins or genes (Hey1, P300, H3K9) and MAPK pathway-related proteins ERK1+2 and p-ERK1+2. RESULTS: Flow cytometry showed that compared with the control cells, MEFs transfected with Ad-CCN3 exhibited significantly increased cell proliferation index ( CONCLUSIONS CCN3 over-expression promotes the proliferation and inhibits apoptosis of MEFs possibly by inhibiting the classical Notch signaling pathway and activating the MAPK pathway
Animals ; Apoptosis ; Cell Cycle ; Cell Proliferation ; Fibroblasts ; Mice ; Nephroblastoma Overexpressed Protein

Objective:To explore the application value of artificial intelligence-assisted diagnosis system for TBS report in cervical cancer screening.Methods:A total of 16 317 clinical samples and related data of cervical liquid-based thin-layer cell smears, which were obtained from July 2020 to September 2020, were collected from Southern Hospital, Guangzhou Huayin Medical Inspection Center, Shenzhen Bao′an People′s Hospital(Group) and Changsha Yuan′an Biotechnology Co., Ltd. The TBS report artificial intelligence-assisted diagnosis system of cervical liquid-based thin-layer cytology jointly developed by Southern Medical University and Guangzhou F. Q. PATHOTECH Co., Ltd. based on deep learning convolution neural network was used to diagnose all clinical samples. The sensitivity,specificity and accuracy of both artificial intelligence-assisted diagnosis system and cytologists using artificial intelligence-assisted diagnosis system were analyzed based on the evaluation standard(2014 TBS). The time spent by the two methods was also compared.Results:The sensitivity of artificial intelligence-assisted diagnosis system in predicting cervical intraepithelial lesions and other lesions (including endometrial cells detected in women over 45 years old and infectious lesions) under different production methods, different cytoplasmic staining and different scanning instruments was 92.90% and 83.55% respectively, and the specificity of negative samples was 87.02%, while that of cytologists using artificial intelligence-assisted diagnosis system was 99.34%, 97.79% and 99.10%, respectively. Moreover, cytologists using artificial intelligence-assisted diagnosis system could save about 6 times of reading time than manual.Conclusions:Artificial intelligence-assisted diagnosis system for TBS report of cervical liquid-based thin-layer cytology has the advantages of high sensitivity, high specificity and strong generalization. Cytologists can significantly improve the accuracy and work efficiency of reading smears by using artificial intelligence-assisted diagnosis system.

Objective: To investigate the relationship between maternal disease in early pregnancy of women of childbearing age and congenital heart disease of neonates. Methods: A cross-sectional design was used in this study and stratified multistage random sampling method was used. A questionnaire survey was conducted in the childbearing-aged women during 2010-2013 in Shaanxi province. Propensity score (PS) matched (1∶1) analysis was used to match participants with diseases to those without disease in early pregnancy. Through the control of the confounders step by step, a logistic regression model was established to evaluate the ORs of congenital heart disease according to the independent variable of maternal disease. Results: A total of 28 680 pairs of mothers and infants were included in this study, the proportion of the women with disease in early pregnancy was 20.25% (5 807). After PS matching, 5 436 pairs were matched. After adjusting all confounding factors, the multivariable logistic regression analysis results showed that maternal disease (OR=1.86, 95%CI: 1.23-2.81), especially cold (OR=2.19, 95%CI: 1.46-3.28), gynecological disease (OR=4.74, 95%CI: 2.03-11.09) and diabetes (OR=14.00, 95%CI: 1.64-119.21), in early pregnancy were the risk factors for congenital heart disease of neonate. Conclusion In women of childbearing age, disease in early pregnancy, especially cold, gynecological disease and diabetes, can increase the risk of congenital heart disease in neonates.

The clinical data of 113 early pregnant (11-14 weeks) women with high risk of placenta accreta undergoing ultrasound examination in Jinhua Maternal and Child Health Hospital from June 2013 to June 2018 were retrospectively analyzed.Among them,there were 21 cases of placenta accreta (implanted group) and 92 cases without placenta accreta (non-implanted group).The diagnostic value of different μltrasound signs for placenta accreta was assessed.The sensitivity of loss of clear zone was 71％(15/21),and the specificity was 87％ (80/92);the sensitivity of placental lacunae and bladder wall interruption was 67％(14/21) and 62％(13/21),and the specificity was 78％(72/92) and 95％(87/92),respectively.The uterovesical hypervascularity has the lowest sensitivity (38％,8/21),but the highest specificity (98％,90/92).When combination of 2 sings was used for diagnosis,the sensitivity of the ultrasound examination was 76％ (16/21) and the specificity was 65％(60/92);when the combination of 3 signs was used,the sensitivity and specificity were 76％ (16/21) and 93％ (86/92),respectively.It is suggested that ultrasound examination in early pregnancy may find all types of placenta implants with good diagnostic accuracy.

Bacterial biofilms have been demonstrated to be closely related to clinical infections and contribute to drug resistance. Berberine, which is the main component of Coptis chinensis, has been reported to have efficient antibacterial activity. This study aimed to investigate the potential effect of a combination of berberine with ciprofloxacin (CIP) to inhibit Salmonella biofilm formation and its effect on expressions of related genes (rpoE, luxS, and ompR). The fractional inhibitory concentration (FIC) index of the combination of berberine with CIP is 0.75 showing a synergistic antibacterial effect. The biofilm's adhesion rate and growth curve showed that the multi-resistant Salmonella strain had the potential to form a biofilm relative to that of strain CVCC528, and the antibiofilm effects were in a dose-dependent manner. Biofilm microstructures were rarely observed at 1/2 × MIC/FIC concentrations (MIC, minimal inhibition concentration), and the combination had a stronger antibiofilm effect than each of the antimicrobial agents used alone at 1/4 × FIC concentration. LuxS, rpoE, and ompR mRNA expressions were significantly repressed (p < 0.01) at 1/2 × MIC/FIC concentrations, and the berberine and CIP combination repressed mRNA expressions more strongly at the 1/4 × FIC concentration. The results indicate that the combination of berberine and CIP has a synergistic effect and is effective in inhibiting Salmonella biofilm formation via repression of luxS, rpoE, and ompR mRNA expressions.
Anti-Infective Agents ; Berberine ; Biofilms ; Ciprofloxacin ; Coptis ; Drug Combinations ; Drug Resistance ; Drug Resistance, Multiple ; Repression, Psychology ; RNA, Messenger ; Salmonella

Objective To investigate the effect of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) on the expression of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) and its mechanism in human microvascular endothelial cells (HMEC-1) in vitro culture.Methods Different concentrations of TSH (0,10,50 mIU/ml) were used to intervene HMEC-1.The expression of eNOS mRNA was detected with quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) method.The protein expressions of eNOS,phosphorylated protein kinase B (p-AKT),protein kinase B (AKT),phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase (P-ERK),and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) were determined with Western Blot.Results (1) The expression level of eNOS was significantly decreased by TSH in dose-dependent manner (P ＜ 0.05).(2) TSH could promote the phosphorylation of AKT and ERK (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions Thyroid-stimulating hormone may inhibit the expression of nitric oxide synthase in human microvascular endothelial cells by activating AKT and ERK signaling pathways.

Objective To construct a knowledge system of cultural competence education among undergraduate nursing students, so as to enhance the cultural capacity of undergraduate nursing students. Methods From September 2015 to January 2016, a two-round expert consultation was conducted among 11 nursing experts who engaged in multicultural related work in Shanghai, Hangzhou and other places by Delphi method. Results The active coefficient of the two rounds of the expert consultation were both 100%. The expert authority (Cr) was 0.89, and the coordination coefficients of the first and second round of consultation were 0.227 and 0.236 respectively (P<0.01). Finally, the knowledge system of cultural competence education in undergraduate nursing students was constructed, including 5 first-level indicators, 10 second-level indicators and 39 third-level indicators. Conclusions The primarily constructed knowledge system of cultural competence education among undergraduate nursing students is a scientific and reasonable frame work system, which provides content references and evaluation basis for the cultural competence education among undergraduate nursing students in our country.

Objective To explore the effects of action observation therapy on upper-extremity motor function and ability in the activities of daily living after cerebral infarction.Methods Forty-one cerebral infarction survivors were randomly assigned to an observation group (n =21) or a control group (n =20).Both groups were given the conventional rehabilitation treatment,while the observation group additionally received action observation therapy 20 mins per day,6 times per week for 8 weeks.Before and after the 8 weeks of treatment,both groups were assessed using the Fugl-Meyer assessment (FMA),Wolf's motor function test (WMFT) and the modified Barthel index (MBI).Results Before the intervention there was no significant difference between the groups in any of the measurements.After the 8 weeks of treatment,all of the results in the treatment group were significantly better,on average,than those of the control group.Conclusions Action observation therapy can improve upper-extremity motor function and ability in the activities of daily living after stroke.